ULFA(I) Plot Foiled: NIA Chargesheets 5 Including Chief Paresh Baruah
NIA files chargesheet against ULFA(I) chief Paresh Baruah and 4 others for plotting IED blasts in Assam to threaten India's sovereignty.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its crackdown on insurgent activities in the Northeast, filing a chargesheet against five individuals linked to the proscribed terrorist organization ULFA (I). The case centers around a daring attempt to destabilize the region through the planting of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Guwahati, Assam, on August 15, 2024.
The Target: Panbazar, Guwahati
The conspiracy came to light following the recovery of an IED planted at Motilal Nehru Road in the Panbazar area of Guwahati. The device was discovered on India's Independence Day, a date often targeted by insurgent groups to create chaos and signal defiance.
According to the NIA, the plot was not an isolated incident but part of a larger, more sinister conspiracy. The accused allegedly planned to execute multiple IED blasts across various locations in Assam. These attacks were designed to cause widespread death, injury, and massive destruction of property.
The Accused and the Charges
The NIA has filed the chargesheet before the NIA Special Court in Guwahati. The list of the accused includes high-ranking members of the banned outfit:
- Paresh Baruah: The Chairman and SS Commander-in-Chief of ULFA (I).
- Kanak Ch Gogoi (alias Aisheng Asom)
- Jahnu Boruah
- Bhargab Gogoi
- Sumu Gogoi
The agency has charged the five individuals under several stringent laws, including various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UA(P) Act), 1967, and the Explosive Substances Act, 1908.
A Conspiracy Against the State
The NIA's investigation reveals that the primary motive behind the planned blasts was to wage war against the Government of India. The agency asserts that the attackers intended to strike terror into the hearts of the public and threaten the unity, integrity, security, and sovereignty of the nation.
Timeline of the Case
The legal process began shortly after the recovery of the device. The case was first registered at the Panbazar Police Station in Guwahati on August 16, 2024 (Case No. 202/2024). Recognizing the national security implications, the NIA took over the investigation and re-registered the case on February 27, 2025.
While the chargesheet has now been filed against these five key figures, the NIA has stated that the investigation is still ongoing, suggesting that more links to the conspiracy may be uncovered in the coming days.